Brainstorming

Recommended Tools

Virtual brainstorming sessions can be very effective if well organized and led by an experienced leader. The best tool to assist in the process is an electronic whiteboard with features and performance suitable for rapidly sorting and grouping ideas. If extensive sketching is desired, then a decent graphics tablet is a must. Mice are simply not good drawing tools.

Here is a list of a few things that can be accomplished during an online brainstorming session:

Generating root-cause ideas

Coming up with a name for a project or product

Determining budget allocations

Creating project or program work breakdown structures (WBS)

Deciding who should be included in a team project

Re-organizing a department

Prioritizing projects or tasks

Creating ideas for celebrations

Anything that can be brainstormed on a traditional flip-chart or dry-erase board can also be done virtually. For example, you can also use a whiteboard to sketch ideas as part of a more creative brainstorming session. Here are the results of two such sessions: